Richard Tubbs, Director of Public Safety is an Alabama native and a graduate of Jacksonville High School in Jacksonville, AL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Jacksonville (AL) State University in 1979. He served in the United States Army as a Military Police Officer from 1971 to 1973 and worked in the journalism field for a number of years, holding positions with The Jacksonville (AL) News, The Alexander City (AL) Outlook and the Natchez (MS) Democrat.

In 1984 Rick returned to law enforcement as a juvenile officer and criminal investigator for the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Department in Vidalia, LA. In 1991 he returned to Jacksonville State University as a university police officer and was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant in 1993. From 1996 through 1997 he served as interim Assistant Director of Public Safety and Deputy Chief of Police for JSU. He attended graduate school at JSU during that time and earned a Master of Public Administration degree with a concentration in Criminal Justice in 1997.

Rick joined the staff at Ringling College of Art and Design in 1998 as Director of Public Safety. His wife, Regina, teaches English at Riverview High School and they are the parents of two sons.

Rick is an active member of the Florida Association of Campus Safety and Security Administrators (FACSSA) and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).

Robert Graham, Assistant Director of Public Safety was hired by Ringling College in March, 2012 as the Public Safety Technology Specialist and in September of 2013 he was promoted to Assistant Director. He is a native of Sarasota and a graduate of Riverview High School. Rob attended Georgia Military College and State College of Florida before joining the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in July of 1985.

Rob retired from SCSO in 2009 and during his 24 years in law enforcement he gained extensive specialized training and experience in Electronic Surveillance, Computer Forensics, Aerial Surveillance, Anti-narcotics Operations and Counter Intelligence Operations. Rob was a pioneer in the field of Computer Crime Investigation, including Online Sexual Predator Investigations and Digital Information Forensics. Rob was certified as a subject matter expert in 4th Amendment Law as it relates to privacy issues involving audio, video and other forms of electronic surveillance. Rob has taught Electronic Surveillance Techniques and the laws governing electronic surveillance to judges, attorneys and federal, state and local law enforcement officers for more than 15 years. He is married and the father of two adult sons. He enjoys travel, movies and spending time with his wife Debi.

Rich Keibler joined the Ringling College Public Safety team in October of 2004 as a part time Public Safety Officer. Rich is a Pennsylvania native where he grew up in Kensington and graduated from New Kensington High School. He worked for U.S. Airways for 37 years at four different airports, including those in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and Houston. He worked from June of 1996 until retirement in 2004 as a customer service agent and ground security coordinator at the Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport. Rich is also an artist and attended the Sarasota School of Decorative Arts. He owns and operates an art related business named Keibler’s Kreations which offers faux finishes, murals, landscapes and seascapes. His hobbies include art, travel, biking and hiking. Rich currently serves as the Communications Officer for the weekend day shift.

Richard Schwartzwald is a native of New York City and studied fine arts at the State University of New York in New Paltz, the Art Students League and Empire State College. He has lived in Sarasota since 2004 and joined the Ringling College Office of Public Safety in April of 2005. Richard is an artist and worked in the arts for many years before leaving New York. He has exhibited some of his work in the area since moving to Sarasota. Just before moving to Florida, Richard worked as a property manager, managing co-ops and condominiums in the SoHo section of New York City. He and his family moved to Sarasota in order to enjoy the beaches, nature, and to live a more outdoor lifestyle. Richard enjoys the beach, bird watching, kayaking and discovering the natural world around him. He is currently the Communications Officer for the day shift, Monday through Friday.

Romey Bumpers is a native of Mobile, AL, where he graduated from John L. LeFlore High School. He served in the United States Army in Europe for six years and remained overseas after separation from military duty. He returned to the United States just a short time before joining the Ringling staff in October of 2006. During his time in Europe Romey worked for Samsung Fashions in The Netherlands for four years in various capacities, including security, customer service and shipping and receiving supervisor. He also worked security in various locations throughout Holland and Germany for 10 years and was an armed security guard for NATO. His hobbies include fishing and weight lifting. Romey is currently the Officer in Charge of the 4 pm to midnight shift Monday through Friday.

Ken Ellis joined the Ringling College Public Safety team in the summer of 2008 and works the midnight to 8 am shift Monday through Friday. He has lived in Sarasota since 1957 and is a graduate of Riverview High School. He is also a graduate of the University of Florida where he earned a BS degree in Agriculture. His past work history includes self employment in the fields of real estate, home repair and the manufacturing of archery equipment. He still maintains two part time businesses, one in home repair and one in creating and selling bows and arrows for local archery buffs. Ken worked for a private security company before being hired at Ringling. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, scuba diving, hiking and camping. He has also been an Assistant Scout Master for Troop 50 in Sarasota for over 20 years. Ken works the midnight to 8 am shift Monday through Friday.

Dennis A. “Denny” Johnson joined the Ringling Public Safety team in January of 2010. He is a native of Warren, OH, where he graduated from Warren G. Harding High School. He attended Youngstown State University. Before starting a second career in safety and security Denny was a business man and co-owner of three different funeral homes in the Warren area. He sold his interest in those businesses after 35 years and moved to Las Vegas where he worked as a security officer and dispatcher at the Green Valley Ranch and Resort and the Red Rock Resort. Denny is the father of two grown children, a son and a daughter, who both still live in Ohio. He has one grandson. His hobbies include woodworking, cooking and home remodeling. Denny works the 4 pm to midnight shift Monday through Friday as patrol officer.

Cathy Giddens is a native of Florida, having been born in Miami where she graduated from Lake Brantley High School. She attended Dalton State College in Dalton, GA and Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL. Cathy has a wealth of experience in the security industry, having worked as a security officer for Walt Disney World in Orlando for 24 years. At Disney she worked as a dispatcher in the security communications center and monitored over 100 security cameras. She created and managed the first and only mounted patrol unit at Disney (security on horseback) and was chosen to travel to Paris, France to be part of the opening of the Euro Disneyland Theme Park (now known as Disneyland Paris). While in France she escorted and guarded celebrity dignitaries and participated in security sweeps seeking explosives and suspicious packages. She is a recipient of the Partners in Excellence Award, the highest award given to Disney employees. After leaving Disney Cathy worked for four years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in Orlando as a call taker, dispatcher and teletype operator in their communications center. Her hobbies include fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, golf, motorcycling and travel. Cathy is the Communications Officer for the weekday 4 pm to midnight shift.

Rick Higgs joined the Ringling College Public Safety staff in February of 2012 after retiring with over 34 years in law enforcement. He is a native of Peoria, Ill where he graduated from Richwood High School. He earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois Central College and attended Northwestern University. Rick served in the Unites States Army from 1970 to 1972 as a Records Specialist and was a member of the U.S. Army Rifle Team. After serving his country Rick was employed by City of Peoria Police Department as a Liaison Officer for several area high schools. He then went on to work as a motorcycle officer and patrol officer, field training officer and detective. He served as Lead Detective for the department’s Domestic Violence Emergency Response Squad from 2001 until his first retirement in 2005. That year Rick was appointed Chief of Police for the Winona, Missouri Police Department and held that position until he retired for a second time in 2011. He moved to Bradenton that year to be closer to family. Rick enjoys fishing and hunting in his spare time. He works the midnight to 8 am shift five nights per week.

Matt Bergman joined the Ringling College Public Safety Staff in February of 2012. Matt is a native of Denver, CO. and a graduate of South Park High School in Fairplay, Co. He attended Trinidad State Junior College in Trinidad, Co and is a veteran of the Colorado Army National Guard and served in the Gulf War as a Military Police Officer. After serving in the Guard, Matt worked for a time with the sheriff’s departments in Elbert and Conejos counties in Colorado and as a city police officer in Manasas, Co. He also has experience at correctional facilities in Louisiana and Texas. Matt has more than 10 years of experience in law enforcement and security. He works the 4 pm to midnight shift weekends.

Paul Dwyer joined the Ringling College Public Safety team in 2012. He is a native of Albany, NY and a graduate of Queensbury High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Skidmore College and a master’s degree in Leadership Studies from SUNY Plattsburg, NY. Paul served 4 years in the United States Coast Guard as a photographer. He joined the Hudson Falls (NY) Police Department in 1972 and served that community for 20 years before retiring in 1992 at the rank of Police Detective. After retirement Paul worked as a Security Supervisor for Wyeth Pharmaceutical in Rouses Point, NY, as Northeast United States Regional Security Manager for Kaiser Permanente and later worked as Security Manager for Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and for Scripps Research in Jupiter, FL. He joined the Ringling staff after retiring again and moving to Sarasota. Paul works as a Public Safety Patrol Officer on day shifts each weekend, holidays and other days as needed.

William “Bill” Johnson is a native of Flushing, NY and a graduate of Smithtown Central High School. Bill attended Suffolk Community College and earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. He also received certification as an Emergency Psychological Technician from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (a division of the City College of New York) and a certification as a Hazardous Materials Technician from the University of Maryland. Bill worked with the New York City Police Department from 1988 until he retired in 2001. His experience with NYPD includes patrol duties, working with the Emergency Service Unit and SWAT team, diplomatic and protective services, hostage recovery and working with emotionally disturbed and suicidal individuals. Bill worked as a seasonal employee with the New York State Park Police and worked with his hometown fire department in Smithtown, NY for 30 years. His hobbies include boating, scuba diving, fishing and hunting. Bill works the midnight to 8 am shift for Ringling College as a patrol officer.

George Trinidad

Communications Officer George Trinidad has been a part time officer with the Ringling College of Art and Design Office of Public Safety since June 2013. He is a native of Brooklyn, New York where he graduated from James Madison High School. Upon graduation, George worked for the New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority as a structural maintenance worker. Shortly thereafter he began his career with the New York City Police Department. While employed as a police officer, George attended SUNY Empire State College where he earned an Associate Degree in Applied Sciences. In 2011 after 20 years of service, he retired in the rank of Sergeant. His last assignment with the NYPD was with a specialized unit that controlled internal and external security at Police Headquarters at One Police Plaza. George has two sons who both attend the Sarasota Military Academy and he enjoys live music and plays golf in his spare time.

Angela Hobbs

Angela Hobbs was hired as Communications Officer with the Office of Public Safety in 2014. She is a native of Ohio where she attended Leetonia High School in Leetonia, OH and Columbia County Career Center in Lisbon, OH. She first moved to Florida with her family in 1985. Her previous experience includes dispatch duties with West Coast Southern Medical Ambulance Service in Bradenton and with the New College of Florida Police Department in Sarasota. Over a career in the security field Angela has worked security details for the Pittsburg Pirates spring training games at McKechnie Field in Bradenton and at Beall’s distribution centers in both Bradenton and Sarasota. She has served as a volunteer firefighter for the Duette Volunteer Fire Department where she was named Fire Fighter of the year in 2005 for her storm recovery efforts after the 2004 Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Jeanne. Angela runs the RCAD Public Safety Communications Center for the midnight shift Friday through Tuesday.

Warren Whitehead

Warren Whitehead is a New York native who was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Staten Island and graduated from Susan E. Wagner High school and attended the College of Staten Island. He served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1979 in the telecommunications field. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Warren lived in Nurnberg, Germany for some time and worked in the transportation industry. Upon returning to New York he worked as an accounting clerk in the Wall Street District. He eventually moved to Pennsylvania where he worked for the Montgomery County Correctional Facility as a corrections officer then as a psychiatric technician for the county Emergency Services Department. He later worked security officer for Glaxo Smith Kline. In 2012 he moved his family to Snellville, GA and went to work as a security officer for Eastside Medical Center. In 2014 he moved to Sarasota, where he said “I have always wanted to be”. Warren was hired by the Ringling College of Art and Design as a Public Safety Officer just a few months after moving to Sarasota. He works the midnight shift as a patrol officer.